Apparently Yao’s career may be in jeopardy. I feel terribly for him. And apparently the Rockets don’t know what to do – it’s handcuffed their entire approach to the offseason and the future.

Considering Ariza’s big moments in this year’s playoffs, many have touted him as the key role player to help Kobe and Co. win a championship. Some have even compared him to Scottie Pippen, the small forward for the Chicago Bulls who teamed up with Michael Jordan to win six rings.

Hogwash.

Scottie Pippen is one of the top 50 players to have played in the NBA. He was quite possibly the most versatile player to have played the game.

People don’t know that Pippen was quite often the primary facilitator on the Bulls. Tex Winters singled Pippen out as the player who had the best grasp of the offense – almost immediately. In fact, Pippen’s playmaking skills allowed Jordan to play down on the block, posting up for high percentage shots. On the other hand, Ariza has terrible ballhandling skills. The guy doesn’t know how to move WITH the ball. He can do one thing, drive hard and try to dunk or lay the ball in. He can’t create for others, and he’s not a good playmaker at all.

He’s closer to Kobe and Shaq’s Rick Fox. Except he lacks Fox’s lockdown defense, and instead has a playing-the-passing-lanes-gambling defense. But Ariza, despite the occasional highlight dunk in the regular season, has shown his best asset on offense to be the spot-up three-point shooter. He penalizes offenses for two-timing Kobe and Gasol, and his surprisingly effective shooting helps spread the floor.

One thing the Lakers found out is that Odom, despite being touted by Pat Riley as having Magic Johnson’s abilities, is not, and never will be a player that resembles Scottie Pippen. In fact, some have noted he’s much closer to Dennis Rodman, for his ability to consistently rebound (albeit at a far slower rate).

In that sense, the Lakers are better off in taking a step back and viewing Ariza for who he is: a limited role player on both ends of the floor. He had his big moments (as did Fisher, Gasol, Odom, even Shannon Brown), but he has much to improve to become a better individual defender (uses his length rather that moves his feet), and he must improve his ballhandling and playmaking skills to add another dimension to the Lakers’ offense.

“Faith.”

That’s how Derek Fisher answered Doris Burke’s question about how he was able to deliver clutch shots despite enduring a rough postseason.

In the postgame interview with an ESPN reporter, Phil Jackson defended his decision to stay with Fisher despite his struggles, citing his “character.”

Even within this game, Fisher couldn’t penalize the Magic for leaving him open. Despite missing his previous five three-pointers, he finally hit one to send the game into overtime, hit another crucial three in the extra period, and helped deliver a miracle ending to a game that appeared out of reach.

Fisher, long-associated with the clutch 0.4 turnaround prayer that delivered the Lakers past the Spurs in ‘04, deemed tonight’s three-pointer even more significant, because it brought the Lakers closer to their goal.

Even in this website, I’ve criticized Fisher’s game, deplored Phil Jackson’s decision to play him at the cost of losing games (and almost a series against the Rockets), and lobbied the Lakers’ front office for a better point guard.

And I still do.

But tonight, Fisher showed that perseverance pays off, confidence carries through, and faith -

Faith moves mountains. And the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

A rare sight in the playoffs; Bynum doing work

I find it really difficult to evaluate Bynum right now. 

Earlier this year, I’d say he was untouchable. He certainly has the capability to put up big numbers.

But he has also been frequently injured. He has yet to be healthy and effective in a playoff series. Which is a problem in itself: is he injury-prone? Gary Vitti, after examining Bynum’s body, concluded that he’s susceptible to leg injuries (Greg Oden seems to be a similar case). 

On the other hand, guys like Dwight Howard are built solidly, like the bulletproof Karl Malone.

Injuries interrupt a player’s development. It seems that Bynum always has to go back a little, rediscover the fundamentals of the game, before regaining some momentum in his game. But injuries have been a stumbling block for him, no question.

But what troubles me too is that Bynum said his struggles are mental, not physical. If that’s the case, then the problem lies deeper: a lack of confidence, focus, and even motivation. That’s troubling, because he’s been with this team too long to go through this again – these were all problems earlier in his career.

Then last week, he qualified (or contradicted) that by saying his knee WAS bothering him. Which is confusing: are his problems mental or physical? Both? What really is going on? And there seems to be a problem between him and Phil Jackson, after he obliquely demanded more minutes, equally obliquely criticized Phil Jackson’s defensive schemes, then equally obliquely took it all back. 

There are just so many things going on with Bynum right now.

On one hand, I’d say no center has more potential in the league than Bynum. Even more than Dwight Howard (Bynum has better size, a naturally softer touch). 

But then again, I’m wondering whether our team could be better served with a dependable, high quality big man veteran than Bynum, who hasn’t been reliable at all.

Take for example last year. If we had Luis Scola in the Boston series, we might have a championship already – and be in better position to win this year. And possibly the next 3-4 years. 

Let’s say Bynum gets past his injuries, mental issues, and becomes reliable in the next couple years. Does a Bynum-centered team have more championship-winning potential than a Kobe-centered team? Extremely doubtful, because Kobe is almost unequivocally considered a top 10 player of all time, certainly top 25…but Bynum? Right now, he’s closer to Kwame Brown than Tim Duncan.

At this point, we don’t NEED to move Bynum, because I think the fact is that even without him, we can contend for a championship with Kobe, Pau, Odom, and Ariza. 

But there is the possibility that our team would be (and would have been) better if we had a more reliable player. 

One thing that I’ve been impressed with is that some players are built for the playoffs. Rugged, sacrificing, balls-to-the-wall, even a little dirty, just willing to do whatever is necessary to win. 

And these guys aren’t necessarily the all-stars – but can make a bigger impact in the playoffs.

Bynum will have to prove that he can stay injury-free and be reliable month-to-month. But I think the Lakers have invested way too much into Bynum to give up on him any time soon (money, Kareem, etc.). The Lakers tend to hold onto players way past their due date, so if Bynum turns out to be a bust, just know that the Lakers will give him every chance until he’s nearly an untradeable contract.

According to Jerry West, LeBron James is the best player in the NBA.

With all due respect to the Logo, he’s wrong. Lebron had the better season, statistically – as ESPN’s John Hollinger would remind you, again and again. A note: how objective is it for a espn writer to argue for a player’s superiority using a ratings system he himself came up with? 

A more balanced viewpoint is in order, using not only statistics but observation, and a whole lot of common sense.

Defense:

Lebron joined Kobe on this year’s All Defensive First Team, which Kobe accomplished seven times and counting. Certainly Kobe has been a more consistent defender over his career. Moreover, Kobe was the defensive stopper for Team USA in the Olympics last summer, when the stakes have never been higher for these players or the NBA.

But how about right now, as of this moment? Due to Lebron’s better shotblocking (from the weakside), and helped by the contrast principle (Lebron didn’t care about defense before the Olympics), I would say he’s a better team defender, while Kobe the better individual defender. This certainly seems the case as Kobe relishes the opportunity to guard the opponent’s best perimeter scorer, while Lebron mainly helps from the weakside.

Kobe still has the defensive edge, simply because Lebron is not a game changer on defense (not like Andrei Kirilenko a couple years ago) from the small forward position. On the other hand, Kobe can lock down and limit the opponent’s best offensive threat, which is frequently more valuable.

Some criticize Kobe’s tendency to leave role players to help his teammates. However, this has actually been a mainstay in the Lakers’ defensive strategy. While the Lakers may get burned in a game or two because of this, over the course of a year, or even a series, forcing guys like Ronnie Brewer, Rondo, and others to become scorers for their team has proven to be an effective strategy. 

But make no mistake, when a team has a star offensive player, Kobe will be on him and be very effective. His ability to change the game with his defense explained why Kobe nearly matched Dwight Howard in the All-Defensive Team voting, which the coaches voted for. Meanwhile, Lebron was runner up for the defensive player of the year – which seems contradictory, until one realizes that the media votes for that distinction. The All-Defensive Teams are selected by NBA head coaches, who clearly deem Kobe the better defensive player.

Rebounding:

Lebron averages a couple more rebounds. Due to his size advantage, it’s not surprising. This is a clear advantage for Lebron. However, Lebron’s no Shawn Marion (double digit rebounder small forward).

Passing, ballhandling:

Lebron averages a couple more assists (and turnovers), which is more indicative of the differences between the Cavs and the Lakers’ offenses than any superior skill. The Cavs run their offense through Lebron. For Kobe, although the ball inevitably gravitates toward him, especially in the fourth quarter, the triangle offense involves too many trigger passes and requires a certain amount of ball movement that makes it difficult for any player to average more than 5, 6 assists. 

In fact, 82games.com rates Lebron’s passing one point higher than Kobe’s, 10 – 9. Also ballhandling, 23 – 22. Close enough to be a wash. 

Shooting/scoring:

Kobe’s a better jump-shooter, one of the finest midranges in the game, and a high percentage finisher. Lebron is a decent jump-shooter, and a terrific finisher. The difference lies in the kinds of shots each takes – Lebron takes far more closer shots, so he ends up with a higher field goal percentage. This comes as no surprise, because many of Lebron’s points come off dunks. Likewise, he draws more fouls. At this point, Lebron was like Kobe earlier in his career – relentless going to the basket, and putting constant pressure on defenses. Which one is better? Lebron has the statistical advantage on average, but what happens when teams are able to slow down Lebron’s drives? In that sense, he’s not quite as versatile and balanced a scorer as Kobe is. 

Kobe’s faced some elite individual and team defenses, and maintained his season and career averages. Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Andrei Kirilenko, and even Ronnie Brewer are among the league’s best, if not best, wing defenders. And Houston was among the league’s best team defenses this season.

Lebron’s next playoff series against the Magic will test the versatility in his game. Can he win from the outside? Can he impose his will on the Magic? Will he be limited at all? I think he’ll have to adjust – and again in the Finals, if we get there, because he had trouble against the Lakers (and Kobe’s defense). In the two season matchups against the Lakers, he shot 25% and 36%, which speaks to both to the merits of Kobe’s defense and the limitations of Lebron’s offense.

How about Wade?

Dwayne Wade also deserves some mention. During the Olympics, both he and Kobe showed which players rose to the occasion when faced by adversity. 

Nonetheless, Wade has his weakness: a somewhat unreliable perimeter game. Although Wade clearly needs better teammates, against a prepared, decent defense (Atlanta), he was limited to well below his season fg% and a very high turnover rate. 

Kobe suffered a similar fate against Boston last year (as did Lebron), but that team, for that one season, was quite possibly one of the greatest defensive teams in the history of the NBA.

Back on point, as it stands, due to his individual ability on defense, and more versatile offensive moves, Kobe is still the best overall player in the league. Jerry West, even while lauding Lebron’s game, qualifies his statement with Kobe’s superiority in the clutch – something that most NBA head coaches agree upon.

“If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant.”

So for the intangibles, the assassin mentality, the ability to rise to the occasion when the game on the line, most informed people would pick Kobe.

And to me, that says it all. Beyond the stats, hype, and spite.

The redemption of USA basketball is a testament to what kind of qualities Kobe has, spoken and unspoken things that Lebron simply does not possess. Not only did Kobe demonstrate a quiet, substantial leadership, leading by example, dedicating himself on defense, and taking over the game when his teammates (and fellow stars) looked overwhelmed.

The true mark of Kobe’s quintessential qualities can be found in the improved games of his understudies, who discovered how deep they must reach into themselves, their bodies and their souls, to achieve greatness.

The Lakers must stick with Brooks like white on rice, i.e., no Fish, and see if the other Rockets can create their own shots. They can’t, except for Artest, and that’s almost a win-win situation because he almost always tries to do too much when he has the ball.

And the fact is, this game plan already worked in Game 3, when Fish was suspended and Farmar and Brown outplayed Brooks and won every single quarter in that game.

“Championship teams I’ve been on, we’ve had to go through some things, games that were tough. You don’t go back through every series and look at the games you lost.” -Derek FIsher, press-enterprise

“Was I angry with the team? Of course you’re angry with the team…But you say as much as you can as a coach, and the players have to execute and do it on the floor.” -Phil Jackson, yahoo sports

How can you be angry at an old dog who can’t learn new tricks?

Phil Jackson’s respect for Fish apparently entails starting him at all costs, even risking playoff elimination. That’s Phil’s failure as a coach, which is ironic, considering his reputation for adeptly managing players and their egos.

But doesn’t require a championship coach to see what’s wrong with the Lakers. Four games…it’s obvious, Fisher cannot stay in front of Brooks. The mismatch at point guard is clearly the biggest difference-maker in the series. When Farmar started in Game 3, he had a +18 differential, and vastly outplayed Brooks: 12 points and 7 assists against 7 points and 1 assist, respectively. In Game 4, Fisher scored 2 points while gaving up a playoff career high 34 points from Brooks, and suffered a -26 differential.

If Fish were an intelligent basketball player, a consummate leader, a team-first guy, he would step aside and allow better suited point guards in Farmar and Brown to stop the bleeding.

All this talk about playing harder, smarter, wanting it more, etc., is all rhetoric. People need to stop talking and do the obvious. Phil needs to get players in the game that can compete. Not want to compete, but can compete. And for Fish, it’s time to step aside. If not for your career, at least for this series.

Fish can drop all the cliches in the book, but he needs to just glance at the boxscore to see what any casual viewer can see: somebody is getting murdered on TV.

If Fish does start again, the best way he can avoid the blow to his ego would be to level Brooks with another shoulder tackle – both the message of toughness as well as his absence would help the Lakers.

 What a game, an unusual game.

Too many turnovers by Kobe, who got a little too cute sometimes, but he did whatever he wanted to do. His usual incredible pivot fadeaways, drawing defenders and kicking out to shooters…but it was that nasty dunk on Milsap at the end that sealed it for me – that was classic Kobe, and I loved ABC’s editing: “Mother-” [cut!]

Ariza was fantastic. I doubted his ability to shoot consistently, especially in the playoffs, but he hit everything tonight. He changed the game, and screwed up Utah’s defensive plan. He burned them for cheating. He has to prove consistency, and he started it off with a bang. He was the number one difference in the game. Which is saying something considering -

Shannon Brown was outstanding. What didn’t this guy do? He’s everything we needed in a point guard since…I can’t remember. Great size, strength, athletic, physical – and when he’s knocking down threes? Game over. I really liked his defense too. It’s clear his strength and length helps him defensively. He’s got the Point on lockdown. Suddenly Fish looks a lot older and Farmar, not quite as valuable.

Gasol didn’t necessarily play soft. He’s just not a banger. Smaller, stronger guys do give him trouble. And the Jazz have plenty of them. He still contributed by being very efficient and ending up with good numbers. He had a few nice blocks. If one expected Gasol to play like a beast, prepare to be disappointed. Gasol is a great finesse forward. If you want beef, look no further than:

Bynum, who couldn’t get into the flow of the game. Some of his fouls were really dumb. Reaching in, etc. It was his first playoff start, though, so I hope he just has the jitters. Didn’t like how he said the knee brace was giving him a little bit of trouble and that he still mentioned stiffness or swelling in his knee. Hm.

On the other hand, Odom was springy. Man was just focused. He makes our bench one of the best in the league. He felt the refs were against him tonight, but he mostly kept his composure – and remained productive. This is a big improvement.

Need to think a little harder: Wilbon’s halftime comment about Kobe shooting less, Lakers winning more. Totally missing the nature of that correlation, Wilbon. 

Love Jerry Sloan. That guy is hardcore. He doesn’t need the game. The game needs him. 

Matt Harpring cracks me up. Some people may hate him, but he does everything in his power to help his team win the game. If he has to play dirty, he’ll do it. I’d love to have Matt Harpring on our team, because he’s a cheap, dirty bastard, and we need one on our team. All the great teams have one of them. Loved that behind the back pass from Kirilenko. That guy – man. Love his game. He’d be beautiful in the triangle offense. With the ball, without the ball…defensively, everything. That lockdown defense on Kobe and steal shows what he’s all about. Elite defender, total team player, a great competitor.

I’d expect a much better showing from the Jazz with Okur in Salt Lake City. They’re a tough, resilient bunch.

How is it that the team with the best record in the NBA isn’t picking up the perennial experienced-veteran-looking-for-a-ring players? 

With Bynum out and Mihm traded, hell, just from last year, I expected the Lakers to pick up a veteran big man. 

Instead, the one team that outmuscled us, BADLY, got even stronger by adding Mikki Moore, a fiery, rangy, defensive big man who can make some shots. PJ Brown hurt us in key stretches last year, and Boston got a pretty good replacement in Moore. On the other hand, the Lakers didn’t get anybody to add some beef. Oh, and Bynum? The guy never played well against Boston in his career. Kendrick Perkins has outplayed him.

This is trouble. And Joe Smith, the other coveted veteran big man, might not be bought out, since their coach made a strong endorsement for his retainment. 

And we get to the big kahuna, Stephon Marbury. People forget this guy is an all star. Isiah Thomas and the mess that used to be the Knicks devalued him in some people’s eyes, but Marbury is a hell of an undervalued player. 

If he’s willing to come off the bench, I can’t think of any better backup point guard in the league. There is none. Rondo/Marbury is an EXPLOSIVE combo, and I can’t think of too many teams in the NBA that can outplay that duo over 48 minutes.

Not only will Rondo or Allen (depending on who Fish matches up against) outproduce Fisher by far, Marbury will most definitely, as sure as shiitake cake outproduce and outplay Farmar. 

Oh, and did I mention the Lakers have one of the worst point guard rotations in the NBA? According to 82games.com, 25th out of 30 teams.

So, in the likely event that we play the Celtics in the Finals, just know that the Celtics have increased their advantage over our weak points: at point guard and toughness in the paint. 

Perhaps we forgot that we have to actually improve to beat the Celtics this year.

Mitch…why didn’t you do it?